The spiritual guide which disintangles the soul, and brings it by the inward way, to the getting of perfect contemplation, and the rich treasure of internal peace. / Written by Dr. Michael de Molinos, priest : with a short treatise concerning daily communion, by the same author. Translated from the Italian copy, printed at Venice, 1685.

AN ACCOUNT Of the following BOOK To all sorts of Readers.

THE Book that is here pre∣sented yea, is a Translation from the Italian Copy, Printed at Venice in 1685. The first Man that got it, with diffi∣culty, out of the Authour's hands, and then had it Printed at Rome in 1675, with all the solemnity of ap∣probations, was Fryer John of St. Mary, who stiles himself Provincial; and he speaks very fine things of it, and he had so heartily read it over, that

the impression which it made in his Mind, gave him the exact cue and knack of that sort of Language which the Authour uses, when he throws himself headlong into darkness and ob∣scurity: And when this Man had re∣commended the Book to the sincere Reader, after his way; the next that appears to give a Grace to it, is no less a Man, than the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord, the Archbishop of Rhegium, who tells us how many great Offices in the Church he had pass'd through; he says in his Ap∣probation of the Book, that 'tis a hard matter to make a judgement of it, without some experience of the things contained in it: And that how high soever the secret of it be above all humane Discourse, yet they are not only not contrary to the right dictates of Reason, but altogether conformable to it: Which is as fit∣ting a Preface to some things in the Book, as any man in the World

could have made with the Study of Seven Years: First, to say that these soveraign Secrets, which the Book treats of, are above all humane Di∣scourse; and then in the very next words, to say they are conformable altogether to the dictates of Reason: as if the dictates of Reason and hu∣man Discourse had entered into a Combination never to come to a right understanding of one another. He that would be further satisfied of the fitness of this Archbishop's Cha∣racter to the Book, will be gratified, by reading patiently some things of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Chap∣ters of the Third Book: But 'tis e∣nough, that this great Man speaks well of his Countryman Molinos's Doctrine, that 'tis according to the judgment of the holy Fathers, and the usual way of Mystical Divines: he says again, that the Authour of this Book, does not speak his own Capricios, but follows the footsteps

of the Ancients, and builds upon their Principles, and spiritual Foun∣dations, that he reduces 'em to a right and clear Method, bringing forth (says he) out of his Treasures, things new and old: And for the Stile of the Book, he allows it to be clear, easie, plain, and full in such crabbed hard and lofty Subject; ad∣ding withal, that the Man doth not decline Proofs of Scripture, Doctrines of the Fathers, Decrees of Councils, nor the Principles of Morality, and therefore he judges it to be a useful Piece, and very worthy to be Print∣ed: and what can be said more to set any Book off.

Next to the Archbishop's Approba∣tion, in comes that of Fryer Francis Mary, Minister General of the whole Franciscian Order, given from his Convent of Ara Coeli, who speaks mighty kindly and favourably of the Book, and recommends it to the Press.

Then appears the Approbation of Fryer Dominic of the most holy Tri∣nity, Qualifier and Counsellour of the holy Office of Malta, and of the Inquisition of Rome, Rector of the Colledge of Missionaries, at St. Pan∣crace, and he blesses himself as he sits in judgment upon it, and gives his sense and liking, as formally as the rest.

After this comes a famous Jesuite, another Qualifier of the Roman Inqui∣sition, and he takes it to be a Book of singular esteem and use, and recom∣mends it to others with as much cor∣dial kindness, as he fancied he had re∣ceived good by it.

And next to him a great Capucine, that could not forbear (either for the credit of the Book, or himself) to tell the World, that he had been no less than four several times, Provincial of Andaluzia, and was at present Defi∣nitor General of all his Order; and expresses himself much taken with

the Book, and as a good proof of so being, discourses upon it in that Mystical Way, and would by no means have it kept from being Pub∣lished.

All this is Roman Approbation; which signifies but little to a Book that must be Printed in Venice; and therefore the Reformers of the Uni∣versity of Padua, who License Books, receiving a Certificate from their Se∣cretary, that the Book had nothing in it against Princes, or good Man∣ners, give leave to a Stationer of Venice to Print it again there, in 1676, upon the Authority of which License it came out once more, in 1685; which was the Copy, that this Translation goes by. So that this Book, it seems, has been suffi∣ciently dispersed in the World, by all these Impressions: And who can say any thing more for it, than such men as these, that have Read and Cen∣sur'd it so Candidly, and Kindly?

If what has since happened to the Authour and his Reputation, do make his Vouchers wish that they had not been so free of their Courte∣sie, let them look to that: But whil'st the poor Man is so harrassed in Rome, it would become the Mer∣cy of this religious Nation, to hear him speak his Mind by an Interpre∣ter: What has stung the Court of Rome may be partly guessed at by this Book: Till we know further of the Authour, there is no more to be said of him than that sometimes he lights upon shrew'd Truths, and very excellent Thoughts, as well as meer Trash and Foppery. Do but pardon him his rich Vein of Enthusiasm and Gibberish, and give him leave now and then to speak further than you can see or apprehend, and you will find things enough to make you think and attend to what he says: But withal let me tell you, that 'tis a Blessing to you to live in a

Country, where the Ministers of Re∣ligion do not use to put Tricks up∣on your Understanding nor lead you blindly you know not whither. And so I rest,

In Molinos's Style, NO-BODY.